The Battle of Britain, Pearl Harbor, Stalingrad, D-Day, Hiroshima—these defining events of World War II exemplify both the heroic efforts and grievous costs of this greatest cataclysm of humanity. This unique overview finds 12 turning points that determined the character and the ultimate outcome of the war. From military campaigns and technological innovations to economic actions and diplomatic summits, P.M.H. Bell's turning points span the full breadth of the war.

"The author's greatest virtue [is] his keen and frequently articulated sense that, at any vital moment, things might easily have turned out differently."—World War II Magazine